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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4249
ANSWERED ON - 01/04/2026
BUFFALO ACCIDENTS ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
4249. SHRI MASTHAN RAO YADAV BEEDHA:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Ministry/NHAI has taken note of the rising road accidents caused by stray
buffaloes and cattle on National Highways, particularly in Andhra Pradesh;
(b) the number of accidents, fatalities and injuries reported during the last three years due to
cattle-related collisions on National Highways;
(c) whether guidelines/SOPs have been issued for preventing cattle movement, including
fencing, barriers, underpasses/overpasses and coordination with local bodies;
(d) steps taken for regular patrolling and warning signage in cattle-prone accident zones; and
(e) whether a coordinated initiative with State Governments is proposed to prevent such
accidents and the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) & (b) Road accident data is collected from the States/Union Territories and publishes the
same in the annual publication "Road Accidents in India". The information regarding
accidents caused by stray buffaloes and cattle on National Highways is not separately
available.
(c) to (e) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued by National Highway
Authority of India (NHAI) in respect of identification, timely reporting, and safe removal of
stray cattle from National Highways (NHs). This SOP includes provision for barricading,
street lighting, monitoring by route patrol vehicle (24x7), providing Advanced Traffic
Management System (ATMS) and providing signages for the road users at the identified
spots of crossing of stray animals. Also, SOP has considered coordinated initiative with State
Governments to prevent such accidents. The designated Nodal Officer shall promptly liaise
with the States/UTs and local police, providing precise details of the locations (including
GPS coordinate/ Latitude/Longitude and chainage) to facilitate the safe evacuation and
relocation of cattle to their assigned shelter.
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